Teen drivers are one of the most vulnerable groups of drivers on the road, and accident statistics bear this out. Data from injuryfacts.nsc.org shows that 16 to 19-year-olds represent just 3.6 percent of licensed drivers, but account for 9.1 percent of drivers in all crashes and 6.1 percent of drivers in fatal crashes. Car accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers in the U.S. Why is the influence of alcohol especially dangerous for teen drivers? Inexperience, impulsiveness, and peer pressure all contribute to teen accidents. Adding alcohol dramatically increases the risk to teenage drivers, as well as their passengers and other people on the road.
If your teen was seriously injured or killed in a car accident involving a drunk driver, contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your options for seeking justice and compensation. You do not have to navigate this difficult time on your own.
Why is the Influence of Alcohol Especially Dangerous for Teen Drivers?
One of the main reasons that alcohol consumption is so dangerous to teenager drivers is its impact on the brain. Teenagers’ brains are still developing, especially in the areas that control decision-making, impulse control, and risk-taking. The presence of alcohol in the bloodstream weakens these brain systems, impairing a teen’s ability to make effective choices in stressful situations. For example, alcohol delays reaction times, which is particularly dangerous for teens who are not used to anticipating and responding to road conditions or the unexpected behavior of other drivers. Unlike adults, who have more experience gauging distance, speed, and traffic patterns, teen drivers may find it challenging to make safe choices even under ideal conditions. Alcohol increases the chances of making a deadly mistake.
Alcohol also hampers judgment and perception. Research shows that even a small amount of alcohol can impair judgement, causing teenagers to take unnecessary risks such as speeding, driving aggressively, or ignoring traffic signals that increase the risk of an accident. Impaired judgment can be particularly dangerous when adolescent drivers have other teens in the car who may encourage risky behavior or create distractions.
Diminished motor skills are another reason why alcohol is a very dangerous substance for teenage drivers. Coordination, spatial awareness, and fine motor control are all impaired by alcohol. Teens, who are still mastering these skills, may struggle to control the car’s speed or stay in their own lane even when they are sober – adding alcohol creates a dangerous situation.
Lastly, teens may not be aware of the full risks and dangers of drinking and driving or how much alcohol leads to impairment. They may think that a couple drinks are perfectly safe, when the reality is that even one drink can be too much for an inexperienced driver.
Teens are still learning how to drive safely, so they are already more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. Adding alcohol to the mix can dangerously affect reaction time, judgement, coordination and decision-making.
Help Teens Understand the Dangers of Impaired Driving
Schools and parents have a responsibility to educate teens about DUI statistics, impaired driving laws, and the dangers of impaired driving.
Impaired driving dramatically increases the chances of a fatal crash because it slows judgment and response times, and decreases awareness – which makes it particularly deadly for teenagers, who are already four times more likely to be involved in a crash than adults because of inexperience.
It’s important for teens to understand that consuming even small amounts of alcohol or drugs impairs their ability to drive, and may result in a DUI. They should also avoid getting into the car with a teen driver who is impaired. Parents should be willing to pick up their kids if they call for help or provide money to call an Uber or ride public transit to ensure they can get home safely.
Contact a Car Accident Personal Injury Attorney
A car accident lawyer can help you recover a full and fair settlement for the injuries you sustained in a car accident with no up-front costs to you. We know the sneaky strategies used by insurance companies to get injured people to agree to settlements far below what they are worth. Our clients typically end up with a settlement or jury award that is five to ten times larger than they could have negotiated on their own. We have been representing people injured in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. Contact the experienced and hard-working personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Mount Vernon, WA today for a FREE consultation!
